Processing method and apparatus for recording media having printed magnetic ink characters

ABSTRACT

In a method of processing recording media containing magnetic ink characters, the media is transported at a first speed along a transportation path to which a magnetic head is disposed. Character recognition is performed by analyzing signals outputted from the magnetic head in comparison with stored signal patterns. Until it is decided whether the characters are correct or can be recognized, transportation of the media is stopped or temporarily slowed to a significantly lower second speed downstream of the magnetic head. A processing apparatus includes appropriate components and functionality for carrying out such a method. In some embodiments, the analysis and comparison includes determining whether the check is inverted or upside down.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method of processing recording mediain a recording medium processing apparatus such as a check readingdevice that is used to read magnetic ink characters from a recordingmedium such as checks or promissory notes that are printed with magneticink characters. More specifically, the invention relates to a recordingmedia processing method enabling determining the transportation state ofa recording medium from the detection signals of a magnetic head thatreads magnetic ink characters, and efficiently executing apost-processing step such as sorting the recording media after passingthe magnetic head reading position based on the detected transportationstate, and to a recording media processing apparatus that uses theprocessing method.

2. Description of Related Art

In banks and other financial institutions checks, promissory notes, andsimilar recording media are passed through a check reader to read themagnetic ink characters and, for example, sort the recording media basedon the result of this reading operation. As electronic check processinghas become more common, the read magnetic ink character data is alsocomputer processed and the check instruments are managed by computer.

JP-A-2004-206362 teaches this type of check reading device. This checkreading device uses a flapper to switch the paper transportation pathbased on the result of reading the magnetic ink characters andselectively discharge the media to either of two discharge trays. Afterreading by the magnetic head used for reading the magnetic inkcharacters, the checks are conveyed at a different speed passed thereading position of an image scanning sensor so that the checks are alsoimaged.

When a check is inserted to the check reading device, the top and bottomor front and back may be reversed. The magnetic ink characters areprinted in a prescribed position on the front of the check. The magnetichead for reading the magnetic ink characters is also disposed to thetransportation path at the position where the magnetic ink characters ona correctly inserted check pass. Therefore, if a check is conveyed withthe top and bottom or the front and back reversed, the area where themagnetic ink characters are printed will not pass in contact with themagnetic head and the magnetic head cannot correctly read the magneticink characters.

If the checks are sorted and selectively deposited into either one oftwo discharge trays by using a flapper to switch the papertransportation path based on the result of reading the magnetic inkcharacters as in the check reading device taught in JP-A-2004-206362,this sorting operation can be executed efficiently and with goodprecision if check transportation errors can be detected.

It is often not possible to increase the length of the transportationpath in the small check reading devices that are used at bank tellerwindows, for example, due to space limitations. However, if thetransportation path is too short, the leading end of the check may havealready reached a position near the flapper for sorting into the twodischarge trays when the trailing end of the check passes the readingposition of the magnetic head. The time that is required to evaluate theresult of magnetic ink character reading by the magnetic head and switchthe flapper based on the result therefore cannot be assured in this typeof small check reading device. In other words, the check has alreadypassed the flapper sorting position and is sent towards one of thedischarge trays before the reading result can be evaluated or before theflapper can be switched based on the result of this evaluation.

As a result, a problem to be solved with compact check reading devicesaccording to the prior art is that checks cannot be correctly sortedbased on the result of reading the check by a magnetic head or imagescanning sensor. Conventional compact check reading devices therefore donot have two or more discharge trays for sorting as taught inJP-A-2004-206362, and discharge checks into a single discharge tray.This then requires manually sorting the checks deposited into thedischarge tray and makes the task of processing checks inefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus and method for processing recording media having printedmagnetic ink characters according to the invention evaluate the resultof reading the recording medium based on a detection signal from amagnetic head, and efficiently execute a post-processing operation, suchas sorting the recording media after passing the reading position of themagnetic head, based on the result of this evaluation.

An apparatus and method for processing recording media having printedmagnetic ink characters according to another aspect of the inventionenable sorting the recording media after reading into a plurality ofdischarge units based on the result of reading the magnetic inkcharacters even in a check reading device that has a shorttransportation path.

One aspect of the invention is a method of processing recording media onwhich magnetic ink characters are printed, the method having steps of:transporting a recording medium on which magnetic ink characters areprinted along a transportation path to which a magnetic head isdisposed; applying a magnetic ink character recognition process thatreferences previously stored signal patterns for magnetic ink characterrecognition based on a detection signal output from the magnetic head;determining that the recording medium is correct if the magnetic inkcharacters can be recognized; determining that the top and bottom of therecording medium are inverted, or that the front and back of therecording medium are reversed, or that the recording medium is of a typedifferent from the recording medium to be read, if the magnetic inkcharacters cannot be recognized; deciding, based on the result of thedetermination, the content of a process applied to the recording mediumby a processing unit that is disposed to the transportation pathdownstream from the magnetic head; and pausing transporting therecording medium, or temporarily slowing the recording mediumtransportation speed, until the content of the process is decided.

If the magnetic ink characters cannot be recognized in the magnetic inkcharacter recognition process, a back-side magnetic ink characterrecognition process that references previously stored back-side signalpatterns that are acquired when the magnetic ink characters are readfrom the back side of the recording medium is applied, and the front andback of the recording medium are determined to be reversed if themagnetic ink characters can be recognized on the back side.

The content of the process could be a process that sorts and dischargesthe recording media into different discharge units based on the resultof the determination. The processing unit in this case may have aplurality of discharge units into which the recording media are routed.Recording media that are determined to be correctly oriented top andbottom and front and back are routed to a prescribed discharge unit, andrecording media that are determined to have the top and bottom or thefront and back reversed, or are determined to be of a type differentfrom the recording medium to be read, are routed to a discharge unitother than the prescribed discharge unit. In this case, recording mediathat have the top and bottom inverted, recording media that have thefront and back reversed, and media that are determined to be of a typedifferent from the recording medium to be read, can each be routed todifferent discharge units.

Another example of the process content is a process that prints on therecording medium based on the result of the determination. Theprocessing unit in this case is a printing mechanism for printing on therecording media, and the printing mechanism prints on recording mediadetermined to be correct, and does not print on recording media that aredetermined to have the top and bottom or the front and back reversed, orare determined to be of a type different from the recording medium to beread.

Magnetic ink characters are printed in a prescribed position on thefront of recording media such as checks. The magnetic head is disposedto the transportation path through which the recording medium isconveyed at a position where the magnetic head is touched by the part ofthe recording medium where the magnetic ink characters are printed asthe recording medium passes by. If the check is conveyed with the topand bottom inverted, the part where the magnetic ink characters areprinted will not pass where the magnetic head is located. The magnetichead therefore cannot detect a change in the magnetic field produced bythe magnetic ink characters, and there will be substantially no changein the detection signal. Therefore, if there is no variation in thedetection signal from the magnetic head, the orientation of therecording medium can be determined to be inverted top and bottom.

Furthermore, if the recording medium is transported with the front andback reversed, the magnetic head will not directly contact the magneticink characters on the recording medium. The magnetic head will detectchange in the magnetic field produced by magnetic ink characters passingat a position that is separated a distance equal to the thickness of therecording medium. The change in the magnetic field produced at this timewill therefore be less than the change resulting when the recordingmedium is correctly oriented, and will be less than a prescribed level.When the change in the detection signal from the magnetic head issubstantially zero or is less than a prescribed level, the conveyedrecording medium may also be of a type different from the recordingmedium that is printed with magnetic ink characters to be read. Therecording medium in this case is determined to be an unreadable,incorrect recording medium, and a process that routes the medium to thesecond discharge unit without executing the magnetic ink characterrecognition process based on the detection signals is executedimmediately.

If variation in the detection signal is greater than or equal to aprescribed level, a magnetic ink character recognition process based onthe detection signal is executed. This magnetic ink characterrecognition process compares the detection signal with previously storedsignal patterns for magnetic ink character recognition. If the magneticink characters can be recognized, the recording medium is determined tobe correct and the recording medium is discharged to a prescribeddischarge unit. If the magnetic ink characters cannot be recognized, itis determined that the top and bottom of the recording medium areinverted, that the front and back are reversed, or that the recordingmedium is of a type different from the recording medium to be read, andthe recording medium is discharged to a discharge unit other than theprescribed discharge unit.

Furthermore, if the magnetic ink characters cannot be recognized in themagnetic ink character recognition process, a back-side magnetic inkcharacter recognition process that references previously storedback-side signal patterns that are acquired when the magnetic inkcharacters are read from the back side of the recording medium isapplied. If the magnetic ink characters can be recognized on the backside, the orientation of the recording medium is determined to bereversed front and back. By thus storing back-side signal patterns thatare acquired when the magnetic ink characters are read by the magnetichead from the back side of the recording medium in addition to thesignal patterns for normal magnetic ink character recognition, it canalso be determined if the front and back of the conveyed recordingmedium are reversed.

In addition to the magnetic ink characters printed in a prescribedposition on the front, checks and other media may have a backgroundpattern printed with magnetic ink in an area other than where themagnetic ink characters are printed. Variation in the detection signalfrom the magnetic head may be greater than or equal to the prescribedlevel in this case. However, magnetic ink characters cannot berecognized from the detection signals even if the magnetic ink characterrecognition process is applied using the signal patterns for normalmagnetic ink character recognition or the back-side signal patterns.Whether the top and bottom or front and back orientation is reversed, orthe medium is of a type different from the recording media to be read,can therefore also be determined with recording medium having a patternprinted with magnetic ink.

A processing unit such as a sorting unit or a printing mechanism isdisposed to the transportation path downstream from the magnetic head.The content of the process applied to the recording medium by theprocessing unit is decided based on the result of evaluating if therecording medium is correct or is not correct and therefore cannot beread or results in read errors. Transporting the recording medium ispaused, or the recording medium transportation speed is temporarilyslowed, until the content of the process is decided. More specifically,after the recording medium passes the reading position of the magnetichead, transporting the recording medium is paused or the transportationspeed of the recording medium is temporarily slowed so that therecording medium does not reach the sorting unit, printing mechanism, orother processing unit until it is decided how the recording medium is tobe processed, such as selecting where to discharge the recording mediumor whether to print on the recording medium, based on the precedingevaluation of the recording medium.

This arrangement assures time for determining the content of the processapplied by the processing unit based on the result of reading therecording medium by slowing the transportation speed or temporarilystopping transportation of the check or other recording medium afterreading by the magnetic head. Even small check reading devices that havean extremely short transportation path in order to reduce the devicesize can therefore read a check or other recording medium and determinethe process to be applied by a processing unit to the read medium basedon the result of reading the medium.

Another aspect of the invention is a recording media processingapparatus that uses the processing method described above, theprocessing apparatus having a recording media supply unit for supplyingthe recording media; a recording media discharge unit for sorting andstoring the recording media; a transportation path for guiding therecording media fed from the recording media supply unit to therecording media discharge unit; and a magnetic head that is disposed tothe transportation path for magnetic ink character reading. Therecording media discharge unit includes a plurality of discharge parts,and a sorting unit that is disposed upstream of the recording mediadischarge unit and routes the recording media for storage in one of thedischarge parts.

In a recording media processing apparatus according to another aspect ofthe invention the transportation path length from the reading positionof the magnetic head to the routing position of the sorting unit on thetransportation path is substantially equal to or shorter than the lengthof the recording medium.

A recording media processing apparatus according to another aspect ofthe invention has a printing mechanism that is disposed upstream of therecording media discharge unit for printing on the recording media.

In a recording media processing apparatus according to another aspect ofthe invention the length of the transportation path from the readingposition of the magnetic head on the transportation path to the routingposition of the sorting unit, or the length of the transportation pathto the printing position of the printing mechanism, is substantiallyequal to or shorter than the length of the recording medium.

The processing method of the invention evaluates the top and bottomorientation and the front and back orientation of recording media thathave printed magnetic ink characters and are conveyed through atransportation path to which a magnetic head is disposed from thedetection signal waveform of the magnetic head, and based on thisevaluation determines how to process the recording medium after readingby the magnetic head. Normal magnetic ink characters cannot be read froma recording medium that is inverted top-to-bottom or front-to-back.Therefore, by detecting the orientation of the recording medium,recording media from which magnetic ink characters cannot be read, andrecording media that produce reading errors, can be reliably andefficiently identified, and can be processed separately from recordingmedia that can be read normally.

In order to assure time for determining how to process the recordingmedia, transportation of the read recording medium is paused or thetransportation speed is temporarily slowed. Therefore, by appropriatelysetting the pause time or the transportation speed, time for identifyingand determining how to process recording media that are conveyed withthe top and bottom inverted or the front and back reversed and cannot beread or result in read errors can be assured even in small recordingmedia processing devices in which a long transportation path cannot beprovided.

Other objects and attainments together with a fuller understanding ofthe invention will become apparent and appreciated by referring to thefollowing description and claims taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a check reading device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 describes the internal arrangement of the check reading device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the control system of the checkreading device.

FIG. 4 is a signal waveform diagram showing an example of the detectionsignal waveform from the magnetic head.

FIG. 5 flow chart describing the operation of the check reading device.

FIG. 6A describes the top and bottom, front and back orientations of acheck.

FIG. 6B is a flow chart of a process for determining the top and bottom,front and back orientation of a check.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of a recording media reading apparatus accordingto the present invention are described below with reference to theaccompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a check reading device according to apreferred embodiment of the invention. This check reading device 1 has amain case 2 and a cover case 3 covering the top of the main case 2, andvarious parts are assembled inside. A transportation path 5 forconveying checks 4 is formed in the cover case 3 as a narrow verticalchannel that is substantially U-shaped when seen from above.

One end of the transportation path 5 is connected to a check supply unit6 that is a wide vertical slot, and the other end of the transportationpath 5 branches left and right and is connected to first and secondcheck discharge units 7 and 8, both of which are wide vertical slots.

The checks 4 have a magnetic ink character line 4A printed lengthwisealong the bottom edge part of the check front 4 a. The check amount,payer, check number, and signature are also recorded on the check front4 a against a specific background pattern, and an endorsement line isprovided on the check back 4 b. As shown in FIG. 1, the checks 4 areinserted to the check supply unit 6 with the tops and bottoms alignedand the check front 4 a facing the outside of the U-shapedtransportation path 5. The checks 4 are therefore fed from the leadingend 4 d side into the transportation path 5.

As the checks 4 fed from the check supply unit 6 travel through thetransportation path 5, the front and back sides of the check 4 areimaged and the magnetic ink character line 4A printed on the check front4 a is read. If this information is read normally, an endorsement isprinted and the check 4 is directed and discharged into the first checkdischarge unit 7. If a read error occurs or reading is not possible, anendorsement is not printed and the check 4 is diverted and dischargedinto the second check discharge unit 8.

FIG. 2 describes the internal structure of the check reading device 1. Acheck feeding mechanism 10 for feeding the checks 4 from the checksupply unit 6 into the transportation path 5 is disposed to the checksupply unit 6. The check feeding mechanism 10 includes a pickup roller11, a feed roller 12, a retard roller 13 that presses against the feedroller 12, a feed motor 14, and a hopper 15 for pressuring the checks.When the feed motor 14 drives, the checks 4 loaded in the check supplyunit 6 are pressed to the pickup roller 11 side by the hopper 15, andthe pickup roller 11 and the feed roller 12 then rotate synchronously.The pickup roller 11 feeds the checks 4 between the feed roller 12 andthe retard roller 13. A prescribed torque load is applied to the retardroller 13, which works so that only the one check 4 in direct contactwith the feed roller 12 is separated from the other checks and fed intothe transportation path 5.

The transportation path 5 is a U-shaped path including an upstream-sidetransportation path portion 21 connected to the check supply unit 6, adownstream-side transportation path portion 23 connected to the firstand second check discharge units 7 and 8, and a curved transportationpath portion 22 connecting the portions on the upstream and downstreamsides.

The transportation mechanism 30 that conveys checks 4 fed from the checksupply unit 6 into the transportation path 5 along the transportationpath 5 includes first to sixth transportation rollers 31 to 36, first tosixth pressure rollers 41 to 46 that are pressed against and rotation inconjunction with the first to sixth transportation rollers 31 to 36, anda transportation motor 37 for rotationally driving the first to sixthtransportation rollers 31 to 36. A stepping motor, for example, is usedas the transportation motor 37. How far a check 4 has traveled cantherefore be known from the number of steps the stepping motor isdriven.

The first to third transportation rollers 31 to 33 are respectivelydisposed to the upstream-side transportation path portion 21 at theupstream end, the middle, and the boundary to the curved transportationpath portion 22. The fourth transportation roller 34 is disposed at aposition on the downstream side of the curved transportation pathportion 22. The fifth and sixth transportation rollers 35 and 36 aredisposed to the downstream-side transportation path portion 23 atpositions in the middle and the downstream end.

Disposed in order from the upstream side to the upstream-sidetransportation path portion 21 of the transportation path 5 between thefirst and second transportation rollers 31 and 32 are a magnet 51 formagnetizing the magnetic ink characters, a front contact image scanner52 as a front image reading means, and a back contact image scanner 53as a back image reading means. A magnetic head 54 for magnetic inkcharacter reading is disposed between the second and thirdtransportation rollers 32 and 33, and a pressure roller 55 for pressingthe checks 4 to the magnetic head is disposed opposite the magnetic head54.

A printing mechanism 56 for printing an endorsement on checks 4 isdisposed to the downstream-side transportation path portion 23 betweenthe fifth and sixth transportation rollers 35 and 36. The printingmechanism 56 can move by means of a drive motor (not shown in thefigure) between a printing position 56A pressed against the check 4, anda standby position retracted from the printing position 56A. Theprinting mechanism 56 could be a stamp instead of a print head.

Various sensors for check transportation control are disposed to thetransportation path 5.

A paper length detector 61 for detecting the length of the check beingfed is disposed to a position before the magnet 51.

A multifeed detector 62 for detecting if multiple checks 4 are being fedtogether is disposed between the back contact image scanner 53 and thesecond transportation roller 32.

A paper jam detector 63 is disposed to a position before the fourthtransportation roller 34. If a check 4 is detected continuously by thisdetector for longer than a prescribed time, a paper jam in which a check4 is stuck in the transportation path 5 is known to have occurred.

A print detector 64 for detecting if a check 4 on which an endorsementis to be printed by the printing mechanism 56 is present is disposed toa position before the fifth transportation roller 35.

A discharge detector 65 for detecting a check 4 to be discharged intothe first and second check discharge units 7 and 8 is disposed at aposition downstream from the sixth transportation roller 36, or morespecifically to the routing channel 9 that branches to the first andsecond check discharge units 7 and 8.

A gate lever 66 (flapper) that is a sorting unit switched by a drivemotor not shown is disposed to the routing channel 9. The gate lever 66selectively switches the downstream end of the transportation path 5 tothe first and second check discharge units 7 and 8 so that the check 4is guided to the selected discharge unit.

The length of the transportation path 5 from the reading position 54A ofthe magnetic head 54 to the printing position 56A of the printingmechanism 56 is substantially equal to or slightly shorter than thelength of the long side (transportation direction) of the checks 4 to beread. Therefore, when the leading end of the check 4 reaches theprinting position 56A, the trailing end of the check 4 or the trailingend of the magnetic ink character line 4A has just passed the readingposition 54A of the magnetic head 54. In addition, the length from thereading position 54A of the magnetic head 54 to the end of the gatelever 66 on the upstream side can also be rendered substantially equalto or slightly shorter than the length of the long side (transportationdirection) of the checks 4 to be read.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the control system of thecheck reading device 1. The control system of the check reading device 1has a control unit 71 that includes a CPU and has memory such as ROM orRAM. The control unit 71 is connected to a host computer system 73 by acommunication cable 72.

The computer system 73 has a display 73 a and input/output devices suchas a keyboard, mouse, or other operating unit 73 b, and commands such asa start command for the check reading operation are input from thecomputer system 73 to the control unit 71.

When a command to start reading is received, the control unit 71 drivesthe check feed motor 14 and the transportation motor 37 to feed a check4 into the transportation path 5 and convey the fed check 4 through thetransportation path 5. The front image data, back image data, and themagnetic ink character information from the check 4 that are captured bythe front contact image scanner 52, the back contact image scanner 53,and the magnetic head 54 are input to the control unit 71.

The magnetic head 54 outputs the electromotive force produced by thechange in the magnetic field formed by the passing magnetic inkcharacter line 4A as the detection signal S1. The detection signal S1 isconverted to a digital signal S2 after amplification and wave shaping bya signal processing circuit 74, and input to the control unit 71.

This input information is then supplied to the computer system 73 forimage processing and character recognition and deciding if the check wasread correctly, and the result of this evaluation is then supplied tothe control unit 71.

The control unit 71 controls driving the printing mechanism 56 and thegate lever 66 based on the result of this evaluation to print or notprint on the read check 4 and route the check 4 to the first checkdischarge unit 7 or the second check discharge unit 8. Image processing,character recognition processing, and deciding whether the check wasread normally could also be done by the control unit 71.

Transportation control of the check 4 by the control unit 71 is based ondetection signals from the paper length detector 61, the multifeeddetector 62, the paper jam detector 63, the print detector 64, and thedischarge detector 65 that are disposed along the transportation path 5.An operating unit 75 including a power switch and other operatingbuttons disposed to the main case 2 is also connected to the controlunit 71.

The computer system 73 has a character recognition unit 76 and first andsecond evaluation units 77 and 78. The character recognition unit 76 andfirst and second evaluation units 77 and 78 recognize the magnetic inkcharacters in the magnetic ink character line 4A based on the detectionsignals from the magnetic head 54, and the first and second evaluationunits 77 and 78 determine if the top/bottom and front/back orientationsof the check 4 are reversed based on the detection signals. Thecharacter recognition unit 76 has a magnetic ink character patternrecognition function for comparing the detection signals with digitaldata patterns (front character signal patterns 79, back-side charactersignal patterns 80) corresponding to the detection signal waveforms ofthe magnetic ink characters and recognizing the characters.

Based on the detection signals, the first evaluation unit 77 determinesif check 4 was correct, if check 4 was fed with the top and bottominverted, or if a non-check paper sheet that is not printed withmagnetic ink characters was fed, based on whether or not there is anyactual change in the detection signal waveform from the magnetic head54.

The second evaluation unit 78 determines if the check 4 was conveyedwith the front and back reversed by comparing the detection signals withdigital data patterns (back-side character signal patterns 80) thatcorrespond to the detection signal waveforms that are output when themagnetic head 54 reads the magnetic ink characters on the check from theback side.

The character recognition unit 76, the first and second evaluation units77 and 78, and the digital data patterns 79 and 80 can be disposed onthe control unit 71 side in the check reading device 1.

FIG. 4 is a signal waveform diagram showing the correlation between thedetection signal waveforms from the magnetic head 54 and the magneticink characters. The magnetic head 54 outputs a unique detection signalwaveform for each magnetic ink character contained in the magnetic inkcharacter line 4A of the check 4 passing the reading position of themagnetic head 54 at a prescribed speed. Digital data patternscorresponding to these detection signal waves are previously stored asthe front character signal patterns 79, and the characters can berecognized by comparing the digital data for the detection signal wavesactually detected by the magnetic head 54 with the front charactersignal patterns 79.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing operation of the checkreading device 1. The reading operation is described using this flowchart.

When the operator inputs a command to start reading from the operatingunit 73 b of the computer system 73 to the check reading device 1,driving the check feeding mechanism 10 and the check transportationmechanism 30 starts to feed and convey the checks 4 loaded in the checksupply unit 6 one at a time through the transportation path 5 (stepsST1, ST2, ST3). The position of the conveyed check 4 is managed based onthe number of steps the transportation motor 37 (the stepping motor) isdriven from when the leading end of the check 4 is detected by the paperlength detector 61. The trailing end of the check 4 is when the check 4is no longer detected by the paper length detector 61. The length andthe position of the check 4 are known from the transportation distanceand the time required for the leading and trailing ends of the check 4to pass.

Front and back images of the conveyed check 4 and the magnetic inkcharacters are read by the front contact image scanner 52, the backcontact image scanner 53, and the magnetic head 54 (step ST4).

The read information is then sent via the communication cable 72 to thecomputer system 73 (step ST5). The computer system 73 then processes thefront check image, the back check image, and the magnetic ink characterinformation, and determines if the check was read normally. If the check4 is determined to be upside down, if the front and back of the check 4are determined to be reversed, or if part of the magnetic ink characterscannot be read, reading is determined to be no good. Reading is alsodetermined to be no good if the check amount or other specificinformation cannot be recognized from the front and back image data. Theprocess of determining if the top and bottom or front and back of thecheck 4 are reversed is described further below (FIG. 6).

When the leading end of the conveyed check 4 reaches the printingposition 56A of the printing mechanism 56 for endorsement printing, thetransportation mechanism 30 on the check reading device 1 side pausesconveying the check 4 (step ST6). With check 4 transportation paused,the check reading device 1 waits to receive the result of determiningwhether the check was correctly read from the computer system 73 (stepST7). The control unit 71 can alternatively process the read front imagedata, back image data, and magnetic ink characters and determine if thecheck was read correctly.

If the result of this decision is received and the check was readcorrectly, transporting the check 4 resumes and the printing mechanism56 is moved to the printing position at the same time (steps ST8, ST9).The check 4 is then conveyed while the printing mechanism 56 prints theendorsement, and is discharged by the gate lever 66 to the first checkdischarge unit 7 side (step ST10). Driving the transportation mechanism30 stops after the discharge detector 65 detects the trailing end of thecheck 4 (steps ST11, ST12). Feeding and conveying the next check thenstarts.

If the check cannot be read or a reading error results (step ST8),conveying the check 4 resumes (step ST13) and the gate lever 66 isswitched at the same time. The printing mechanism 24 is also held in thestandby position and does not print an endorsement on the check 4. Thecheck 4 is then diverted and discharged into the second check dischargeunit 8 by the gate lever 66 (step ST14). Driving the transportationmechanism 30 stops after the discharge detector 65 detects the trailingend of the check 4 (steps ST11, ST12). Feeding and conveying the nextcheck then starts.

If multifeeding of the checks is detected by the multifeed detector 62,the control unit 71 executes an interrupt process, immediately stopstransportation, reports that a transportation error occurred by means ofa warning indicator on the operating unit 75, for example, and waits forthe check to be removed from the transportation path 5 and the startingposition reset. A similar interrupt process is executed when the paperjam detector 63 detects that a check has jammed in the transportationpath 5.

An evaluation process for determining if the top and bottom or front andback of the conveyed check 4 are reversed based on a detection signal S1from the magnetic head 54 is described next with reference to thediagrams and flow chart shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

FIG. 6A shows the various orientations in which a check 4 can beinserted. Check 4(1) is a check 4 inserted in the normal insertionposition, and check 4(2) is a check 4 inserted with both the top andbottom and the front and back reversed. Check 4(3) is a check 4 insertedwith the top and bottom and the leading and trailing ends reversed, andcheck 4(4) is a check 4 inserted with the front and back and the leadingand trailing ends reversed.

With checks 4(2) and 4(3) the position of the magnetic ink characterline 4A is inverted top and bottom from the position on the normallyinserted check 4(1), and the magnetic ink character line 4A thereforecannot be read by the magnetic head 54. With check 4(4) the magnetic inkcharacter line 4A will be read from the back side by the magnetic head54.

These different check orientations can be determined from the detectionsignals output by the magnetic head 54 in this embodiment of theinvention.

This process is described below with reference to the flow chart in FIG.6B. The first step is to determine if there is actually any change inthe detection signal from the magnetic head 54 (step ST21). Morespecifically, whether the amplitude of the detection signal waveformvaries a prescribed amount or more is determined. Because the magnetichead 54 cannot read the magnetic ink character line 4A and there is noactual change in the detection signal with checks 4(2) and 4(3), theconveyed check is determined to be a check 4(2) and 4(3) with the topand bottom inverted (step ST25). Alternatively, the medium can bedetermined to be a sheet of paper other than a check on which a magneticink character line 4A is not printed. If the check 4(4) is inserted withthe front and back reversed and the check is made of thick paper, theamplitude of the waveform of the detection signal from the magnetic head54 may not vary the prescribed amount or more. This situation can alsobe determined (step ST25).

If there is actually any change in the detection signal, the detectionsignals are compared with the detection signal patterns (front charactersignal patterns 79) for the magnetic ink characters that are previouslystored for character recognition (step ST22). If character recognitionis possible, it is determined that the check 4 is being conveyed in thenormal position (step ST24). More specifically, the check is in theposition of check 4(1).

If character recognition is not possible, the detection signals arecompared with the previously stored back-side character signal patterns80 for character recognition (step ST26). If character recognition ispossible in this case, it is determined that the check is conveyed withthe front and back reversed as indicated by check 4(4) (step ST28).

If character recognition is not possible, it is determined that thecheck is conveyed with the top and bottom inverted as in transportationstates 4(2) and 4(3) (step ST29). Determining that the top and bottomare reversed is based on whether there is any change in the detectionsignals in step ST21. However, there are also checks that have abackground pattern printed with magnetic ink over the entire front ofthe check. Because the detection signals from the magnetic head 54 willvary with this type of check even if the top and bottom are inverted,the top and bottom cannot be determined based on whether or not there ischange in the detection signals. However, this embodiment of theinvention can determine the top and bottom even with such checks byreferencing the back-side character signal patterns.

As described above the check reading device 1 according to thisembodiment of the invention determines if the top and bottom of theconveyed check are inverted or the front and back are reversed baseddetection signals from the magnetic head 54, determines that suchreversed checks cannot be read, and routes and discharges such checks tothe second check discharge unit 8. By thus determining if the top andbottom or the front and back of the checks 4 are reversed, checks fromwhich the magnetic ink characters cannot be read or which cause a readerror can be separated efficiently and accurately.

This embodiment of the invention also pauses check 4 transportation andwaits for check reading to be evaluated when the leading end of thecheck 4 reaches the printing position 56A of the printing mechanism 56,that is, as soon as the trailing end passes the reading position 54A ofthe magnetic head 54. By thus pausing the check 4 and appropriatelysetting the pause time, the checks 4 can be routed to the first andsecond check discharge units 7 and 8 based on the result of theevaluation even if the transportation path 5 is short. And, the gatelever 66 can be moved to the appropriate routing position before theleading end of the check 4 reaches the routing position of the gatelever 66. More specifically, the printing mechanism 56 can be moved tothe position where printing is possible before the endorsement printingarea of the check 4 reaches the printing position 56A.

Other Embodiments

In the embodiment described above transporting the check 4 is paused toassure time to evaluate the result of reading the check and to move theprinting mechanism 56 and the gate lever 66. This time can also beassured by slowing the check transportation speed instead of pausingtransportation. For example, the length of the transportation path fromthe reading position 54A to the printing position 56A can be setslightly longer than the length of the check, the check can be conveyedat a slow speed from when the trailing end of the check 4 passes thereading position 54A of the magnetic head 54 until the leading end ofthe check reaches the printing position 56A of the printing mechanism56, and this transportation time can be used as the check readingevaluation time and the time for moving the printing mechanism 56 andthe gate lever 66.

Alternatively, the transportation path length from the reading position54A to the printing position 56A can be set slightly shorter than thelength of the check, and the check can be conveyed at a very slow speedfrom when the trailing end of the magnetic ink character line 4A of thecheck 4 passes the reading position 54A of the magnetic head 54 untilthe leading end of the check reaches the printing position 56A of theprinting mechanism 56. This arrangement affords a more compact checkreading device 1.

Resuming transporting a check 4 that was paused at the printing position56A can also be done manually by the operator. More specifically, theoperator can check the front image, the back image, and the magnetic inkcharacters on the screen of the computer system 73 and input from theoperating unit 73 b whether the check was read normally or not. Thisinput result is supplied to the control unit 71 of the check readingdevice 1, and based on this input transporting the check 4 is resumedand the check 4 is routed to the first check discharge unit 7 or thesecond check discharge unit 8. Alternatively, the operator can operatethe operating unit 75 of the check reading device 1.

The foregoing embodiment applies the invention in a check readingdevice, but the processing method of the invention can be used in thesame way when processing recording media having printed magnetic inkcharacters other than checks.

And, the character recognition and the evaluation can be done on thecontrol unit 71 side in the check reading device 1.

In the example described above checks 4(1) in the normal orientation aredischarged to the first check discharge unit 7 and all other checks 4are discharged to the second check discharge unit 8. An arrangementhaving additional discharge units so that checks 4(2) that aretransported with the top and bottom and the front and back inverted,checks 4(3) that are transported with the top and bottom inverted,checks 4(4) that are transported with the front and back reversed, andrecording media that are not checks are discharged to separateindividual discharge units, and an arrangement in which specificcombinations of these orientations are discharged to a plurality ofdischarge units, are also possible. This eliminates the need to manuallysort the checks when correcting the orientation and reinserting thechecks 4.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modificationsare to be understood as included within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims, unless they departtherefrom.

1. A method of processing recording media on which magnetic inkcharacters are printed, the method comprising steps of: transporting therecording media in an upright position and at a first predeterminedspeed along a transportation path to which a magnetic head is disposed;detecting output signals from the magnetic head; using a process ofmagnetic ink character recognition for analyzing the detected outputsignals, in comparison with previously stored signal patterns ofmagnetic ink character(s); and pausing the transporting of the recordingmedia such that it is not moving, or temporarily slowing the recordingmedia transportation speed to a second speed substantially below saidfirst predetermined speed downstream from the magnetic head until thecontent of the process is decided based on the evaluation of theanalyzed detected output signals to determine if the magnetic inkcharacters are identified as correct or can be recognized.
 2. The methodof processing recording media on which magnetic ink characters areprinted as described in claim 1 further comprising; determining from theanalysis of the detected output signals: whether the magnetic inkcharacters can be recognized and if so whether the top and bottom of therecording medium are inverted, or that the front and back of therecording medium are reversed, or that the recording medium is of a typedifferent from the recording medium to be read or if the magnetic inkcharacters cannot be recognized, and deciding the content of the processto be applied to the recording media based on the result of thedetermination.
 3. The method of processing recording media on whichmagnetic ink characters are printed as described in claim 2, furthercomprising steps of: applying a back-side magnetic ink characterrecognition process that references previously stored back-side signalpatterns that are acquired when the magnetic ink characters are readfrom the back side of the recording media, and determining that thefront and back of the recording media are reversed when magnetic inkcharacters can be recognized on the back side.
 4. The method ofprocessing recording media on which magnetic ink characters are printedas described in claim 3, wherein based on the result of thedetermination further comprising printing on the recording media whenthe recording media is determined to be correct and not to print on therecording media when the recording media is determined to have the topand bottom or the front and back reversed, or determined to be of a typedifferent from the recording medium to be read.
 5. The method ofprocessing recording media on which magnetic ink characters are printedas described in claim 2, wherein based on the result of thedetermination, further comprising the steps of sorting and routing therecording media into a first prescribed discharge unit when therecording media is determined to be correct, and when the recordingmedia is determined to have the top and bottom or the front and backreversed, or are determined to be of a type different from the recordingmedium to be read, it is routed to a discharge unit other than the firstprescribed discharge unit.
 6. The method of processing recording mediaon which magnetic ink characters are printed as described in claim 3,further comprising sorting and routing the recording media into a firstprescribed discharge unit when the recording media is determined to becorrect and when the recording media is determined to have the top andbottom or the front and back reversed, or are determined to be of a typedifferent from the recording medium to be read, routing the recordingmedia to a discharge unit other than the first prescribed dischargeunit.
 7. The method of processing recording media on which magnetic inkcharacters are printed as described in claim 2, wherein based on theresult of the determination further comprising printing on the recordingmedia when the recording media is determined to be correct and not toprint on the recording media when the recording media is determined tohave the top and bottom or the front and back reversed, or determined tobe of a type different from the recording medium to be read.
 8. A methodof processing recording media on which magnetic ink characters areprinted, the method comprising steps of: transporting the recordingmedia along a transportation path to which a magnetic head is disposed;detecting output signals from said magnetic head; determining if avariation in the detection signal output from the magnetic head is lessthan a prescribed level; and pausing transporting the recording medium,or temporarily slowing the recording medium transportation speed,downstream from the magnetic head until the content of the process to beapplied to the recording media is decided based on the determination ofthe detected output signals.
 9. The method of claim 8 further comprisingthe step of making said determination based upon whether the magneticink characters can be recognized and if so whether the top and bottom ofthe recording medium are inverted, or that the front and back of therecording medium are reversed, or that the recording medium is of a typedifferent from the recording medium to be read or if the magnetic inkcharacters cannot be recognized.
 10. A method of processing recordingmedia on which magnetic ink characters are printed, the methodcomprising steps of: transporting the recording media along atransportation path to which a magnetic head is disposed; detectingoutput signals from said magnetic head; using a process of magnetic inkcharacter recognition for analyzing the detected output signals incomparison to previously stored signal patterns for magnetic inkcharacter recognition based on a detection signal output from themagnetic head having a variation which is greater than or equal to aprescribed level; determining from such analysis that the recordingmedium is correct if the magnetic ink characters can be recognized; ordetermining that the top and bottom of the recording medium areinverted, or that the front and back are reversed, or that the recordingmedium is of a type different from the recording medium to be read, ifthe magnetic ink characters cannot be recognized; pausing transportingthe recording medium, or temporarily slowing the recording mediumtransportation speed, downstream of the magnetic head until thedetermination is decided; and deciding the content of a process to beapplied to the recording medium based on the result of thedetermination.
 11. The method of processing recording media on whichmagnetic ink characters are printed described in claim 10, furthercomprising steps of: applying a back-side magnetic ink characterrecognition process that references previously stored back-side signalpatterns that are acquired when the magnetic ink characters are readfrom the back side of the recording medium if the magnetic inkcharacters cannot be recognized in the magnetic ink characterrecognition process; and determining that the front and back of therecording medium are reversed when the magnetic ink characters can berecognized on the back side.
 12. The method of processing recordingmedia on which magnetic ink characters are printed as described in claim11 further comprising sorting and routing the recording media determinedto be correct to a first prescribed discharge unit, and sorting androuting the recording media determined to have the top and bottom or thefront and back reversed, or are determined to be of medium to be read,to a prescribed discharge unit.
 13. The method of processing recordingmedia on which magnetic ink characters are printed described in claim 11further comprising the step printing on the recording media when therecording media is determined to be correct, and not to print on therecording media when the recording media is determined to have the topand bottom or the front and back reversed, or determined to be of a typedifferent from the recording medium to be read.
 14. The method ofprocessing recording media on which magnetic ink characters are printedas described in claim 10 further comprising sorting and routing therecording media determined to be correct to a first prescribed dischargeunit, and sorting and routing the recording media determined to have thetop and bottom or the front and back reversed, or are determined to beof a type different from the recording medium to be read, to a dischargeunit other than the first prescribed discharge unit.
 15. The method ofprocessing recording media on which magnetic ink characters are printeddescribed in claim 10 further comprising printing on the recording mediawhen the recording media is determined to be correct, and and not toprint on the recording media when the recording media is determined tohave the top and bottom or the front and back reversed, or determined tobe of a type different from the recording medium to be read.
 16. Arecording media processing apparatus for processing recording media onwhich magnetic ink characters are printed comprising: a recording mediasupply unit for supplying the recording media; a recording mediadischarge unit for storing the recording media; a transportation pathfor guiding the recording media fed from the recording media supply unitto the recording media discharge unit; a magnetic head disposed to thetransportation path for generating output signals upon reading printedmagnetic ink character(s) on the recording media; a characterrecognition unit for analyzing the output signals from said magnetichead by comparison with previously stored signal patterns of magneticink character(s) to determine if the magnetic ink characters can berecognized and if the recording media is being transported properly orto determine from such character recognition that that the top andbottom of the recording media are inverted, or that the front and backof the recording media are reversed, or to determine that the detectedsignals are not recognizable or not detectable; a processing unit fordetermining if the recording media is to be further processed and/orpermitted to continue on the transportation path based upon the resultsof character recognition; wherein the recording media discharge unitincludes a plurality of discharge parts; and a sorting unit that isdisposed upstream of the recording media discharge unit for sorting androuting the recording media into one of the discharge parts.
 17. Arecording media processing apparatus as defined in claim 16 furthercomprising a detector for detecting the output signals from saidmagnetic head and wherein said character recognition unit is responsiveto said detector.
 18. The recording media processing apparatus describedin claim 16, wherein: the transportation path length from the magnetichead on the transportation path to the sorting unit is substantiallyequal to or shorter than the length of the recording medium.
 19. Arecording media processing apparatus on which magnetic ink charactersare printed, the apparatus comprising: a recording media supply unit forsupplying the recording media; a recording media discharge unit forstoring the recording media; a transportation path for guiding therecording media fed from the recording media supply unit to therecording media discharge unit; a magnetic head that is disposed to thetransportation path for magnetic ink character reading and forgenerating output signals in response to reading printed magnetic inkcharacter(s) on the recording media; a character recognition unit foranalyzing the output signals from the magnetic head to determine if themagnetic ink characters can be recognized and if the recording media isbeing transported properly or to determine from such characterrecognition that that the top and bottom of the recording media areinverted, or that the front and back of the recording media arereversed, or to determine that the detected signals are not recognizableor not detectable; a processing unit for determining if the recordingmedia is to be further processed and/or permitted to continue on thetransportation path downstream from the magnetic head based upon theresults of character recognition; and a printing mechanism that isdisposed upstream of the recording media discharge unit for printing onthe recording media.
 20. A recording media processing apparatus asdefined in claim 19 further comprising a detector for detecting theoutput signals from said magnetic head and wherein said characterrecognition unit is responsive to said detector.
 21. The recording mediaprocessing apparatus described in claim 20, wherein: the transportationpath length from the magnetic head on the transportation path to theprinting mechanism is substantially equal to or shorter than the lengthof the recording medium.